To book a 6 person lodge for myself?

[MaryRoze]

One of my favourite things to do since escaping my controlling ex is to get away by myself for a couple of nights, somewhere remote with a good view, a hot tub, where I can just relax and recharge.

I've found a lovely site that has a few 2 person glamping pods, and 2 self-catering cottages. One cottage sleeps 4, the other sleeps 6. I dithered over both of them but decided to go for the 6 person lodge as it has nicer facilities, bigger kitchen, nicer views, and an enclosed garden for if I decide to bring my dog with me.

I've just received an email from the company asking me to clarify it's just for me. I've said yes. They've come back and said it's a busy time of year for them (October), so would I like to have one of the glamping pods instead as the cottages are really for bigger parties only.

I've had another look on their website and can see now it says they charge a fixed rate for 2 people, and for each additional person it's an extra £50 per person, per night! So they're obviously thinking they can make more money out of a bigger party rather than just me on my own.

I haven't specified this to them yet but I was planning on paying extra for early check in (£30), bringing the dog (£25), and a bottle of fizzy on arrival (£40). So it's not like they won't be getting their moneys worth out of me.

AIBU to book the larger property just for me?

The business owner should expect a flat rate to be paid for the cottage, but pet person, hopefully they will learn from this mistake. Making a one off bad review is probably preferential to being in debit after a single guest stay. If you are giving a scathing review expecting someone to make a big financial loss because you want a house for 6 for yourself, then they'd be better off without such a guest too.

Wrong. It's like booking 6 rooms, paying for all 6, but then being told that you should use only one of them.

Once again for the hard of reading
a) The cottage doesn't even have that many bedrooms! Only 2.

b) The fact that 2 people are allowed to book is shown by the existence of a fixed price for 2 people, and an additional charge above that.

Also since you mention hotels , these often have a single person supplement, where a single person booking a double room has to pay a bit extra.

Nothing stopping this business from doing that.

Because it's a business and they want to make money. OP could make up 5 friends and book for six but obviously that will come at a cost.

Of course it’s happened before unless they are new to the market this summer. It’s very common for a single person or a couple to take a 2 bed property.

If they messed up, they take the hit not their guest, and modify their pricing going forward. Why should OP lose her booking taken in good faith at their convenience?

It's a two bedroom cottage, and she's paid the price for 2 guests. I'm not sure what's unreasonable about that.
Of course they can cancel the booking if they want, but it would extremely unprofessional.

Also I know I sound like a broken record but I think the property size is important here!
I'd think OP a bit U if she was genuinely booking a large property, one with several bedrooms.

However it's just a 2 bed cottage. With sofa beds to make 6.

If you don't want to share it's a natural 2 person place, with an extra bed shoved in to make 3.

OP has paid the fixed price for 2 people so despite what some people are claiming she hasn't bagged herself a complete bargain.

Absolutely, but in this case the business didn't do the price correctly maybe they are new, who knows. and they realise they will make a loss. OP is not unreasonable to want the place to herself, they are not being unreasonable if they expect her to pay what you call the supplement to not make a loss.

If they want the lodge to be X price for 6 people, then that should be the only price for it. They should take the hit this one time & amend their listing for future bookings.

They dont need to take a hit, they can cancel the booking.

A few years back a big retailer made a blunder and sold product A retailing at something close to 100 for like £10. They refunded everyone, byt hyenas expecting to make a big profit and thinking they hit a jackpot were threatening to take them to court. Of course nothing materialised because everyone got the money back, end of story.

In a similar way, if the place (which may be new, we dont know) can cancel the booking and redo the pricing.

I dont agree that anyone should make a loss / suck it up because of a mistake, nice as it would be for anyone to rent a place housing 6 or 10 people and pay for 1 :)

Given that they provided a 'fixed price for 2', it's unlikely that they'll make a loss. Also, as discussed multiple times, this is only a 2 bed cottage. 2-3 is a perfectly acceptable number. Person 5 and 6 don't even have a bedroom. A single guest only has one extra room, there's no massive fixed cost associated with a much bigger property that'll cause a loss.

However, even if they will make a loss, your second sentence is wrong. It's not only unreasonable for them to not honour the advertised price, it's also illegal. If they make a mistakes they suck up the loss.

Personally I think they might have gotten a sudden large booking maybe for a hen do, wedding or similar. And are trying to profit off that. If something's booked, it's booked.

I've just scoured the entire website and there's nothing whatsoever about minimum occupancy.

I've also went through the booking process for the week before in October, and the price is increasing as I add on extra guests (above the fixed 2 person rate) which I admit, I didn't even attempt in my original booking.

I didn't think I was massively under-occupying because although it says "sleeps 6", it's only a 2 bedroom cottage. Persons 5 and 6 are expected to kip on sofa beds in the living room.
Wow! I think that’s why it’s only £20 more than another one, because technically the difference is not so big.
I wouldn’t like their business approach tbh. If you want this property with better view it’s up to you, you knew that glamping pods were available at the moment of booking. And these charges for additional day guests… Don’t get me wrong I absolutely understand that more guests require more bedding etc etc and they are right to check that you are not CF who is booking for secret group of 12 but still…I would expect them to check that it’s only you who is staying and stop at that without extra advices which place you should choose for booking.

They haven't made a pricing error though. She paid the 2 person minimum, which is already more expensive that the smaller property. They just changed their minds because they think they could make more. Of course they can cancel, but that's appalling customer service. I imagine if OP had booked with an imaginary partner, paying the same price, this issue would not have arisen...

And to be honest you might decide to bring an additional guest with you by October who knows - paying the relevant extra charges of course.

If they offer it to book at x price for one person online and you’ve done so they can’t cancel! It’s tough tits! They should have thought that through, I expect they advertise as such to make it look cheap. Then people get hooked and excited and book anayway. If they see full price they would scroll on

On this particular occasion, no, because it's already booked and paid for.

If the consensus was that occupying a 2 bedroom place when you're just one person was unreasonable, it would certainly make me think twice on future bookings.

Not really the point but the extras you mention isn’t just money in their pockets. The fizz they’ll have bought/have to buy and they might pay cleaners for a ‘deeper’ clean when a dog has been

Good for you OP - stand your ground and keep your lovely property. It's clear that the company didn't think through their policies and now aren't making as much money as they'd like. It's on them and they can change their policies in future if they want to.

Most people I know get a property a little bigger than strictly needed because holiday properties are often small.

That's so kind of you. Thank you.

@MaryRoze

im sorry I haven't read the whole thread (I am just about to get off my phone as I don't feel great)

I just wanted to say, (especially given it's only a 2bdrm place) I don't think YABU at all, they need to change their system if they're not happy to take a solo booking in it!! Just price the minimum at what they're happy with. Idiots.

but if it were me (& it could well be!) I'd cancel & book elsewhere because my fear would be turning up and finding it 'accidentally' double booked with only a pod available.

I work in holiday keys and bookings this year have been dire. Our industry body agrees. They'd be mad to lose your booking when times are tough. If they don't book it, they'll probably reduce the price nearer the time and get less anyway.